SHARE OF THE WEEK: EasyJet’s annual results will be a barometer of its performance for the year ahead
EasyJet has had a turbulent time over the past few years, battered by lockdowns, travel restrictions, rising fuel prices and the cost of living crisis.
Even so, the low-cost airline said in October that its flights would be as full as they were before the pandemic during the fall and Christmas midterms.
On Tuesday, investors will find out if it was on the money when it unveils its annual results. This, in turn, will be a barometer of his performance for the coming year.
Shareholders will also consider full-year losses and whether they are within an expected range of £170-190m, following a loss of £1.1bn last year.
It has already suffered a £64m hit from currency exchange losses as the value of the pound plummeted and £75m in costs associated with summer disruptions and cancellations.
“A worse-than-expected performance on this front will not be welcomed by the market,” said Sophie Lund-Yates, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.
As inflation hits purchasing power, eyes will be on forecasts for the year ahead and whether demand is expected to weaken.
Lund-Yates said, “The band’s stronger brand and proposition keeps it in a better position than others, but it’s always something to keep in mind.”
Russ Mould, at AJ Bell, said: “Stocks are still barely above what they were a decade ago, thanks to lingering worries about Covid, high oil prices, fierce competition, the war in Ukraine and the possibility of a recession dampening consumers’ willingness to book vacations.
